Espejo Sideral

Artist Statement

I am Nicolás Arias, an artist, researcher, and writer. My work blends artistic expression with philosophical exploration, influenced by Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and my background in law. These fields underpin my exploration of impermanence, interconnectedness, and the nature of the self, challenging the consumer-driven forces of modernity that promote a mechanistic individualism at the expense of ethical engagement. My art serves as an invitation to reconsider our habitual modes of existence, fostering slow, intentional experiences that deepen meaningful connections and ethical awareness.

Philosophical Underpinnings and Artistic Vision

Central to my work is an engagement with Buddhist concepts like anātman (non-self), śūnyatā (absence of fixed and unchanging essences), and pratītyasamutpāda (dependent origination). These principles challenge fixed identities, dissolving dualistic perspectives, and offering an inquiry into impermanence. Indo-Tibetan Dzogchen teachings particularly inform my practice, emphasizing the importance of recognizing a deeper, non-conceptual awareness, notable for its primordial purity (non reactive, or overwhelmed by negative emotions). This philosophical framework shapes both my research and the symbolic language of my art.

Techniques and Mediums

My photographic practice ranges from digital methods to large-format analog photography, exploring themes of time, landscape, and ethical concerns. I also specialize in printmaking techniques(etching, aquatint, mezzotint, linocut, cyanotype, monotype, lithography and photogravure) where I experiment with texture and form. In drawing and painting, I use materials like charcoal, graphite, and silverpoint to explore themes of mystery and transformation, echoing something primal about the relationship between humans and nature (i. e. wood, fire, tools, creativity).